[boatbums]

It is CURRENT law in the Catholic Church that all clerics observe perfect, perpetual continence. This includes those who are permitted to be ordained even though married. I.e., it includes deacons, and those who have been ordained priests after converting from another ecclesial body.

Please permit me to ask for some clarification.

Please explain what exactly this means. Does "perpetual continence" for a married cleric mean no sex at all with his legal spouse or does it mean no sexual contact with said wife for a certain time prior to conducting Mass or does it simply mean the married man must be sexually pure and faithful to his wife and not commit adultery and he may have sexual contact with his wife?

If even deacons are included in this "perpetual continence" and not just priests, then are deacons also mandated to be celibate and remain unmarried?

Thank you.

[Arthur McGowan]

“Celibate” means unmarried.

“Continent” means not engaging in any sexual activity.

“Perpetual” means everlasting and uninterrupted.

In the Western Church, all clerics are bound to celibacy, with some exceptions (deacons, and some converts from other ecclesial bodies). All clerics are bound to perfect and perpetual continence.

All clerics promise celibacy at the time they are ordained a deacon. No cleric may contract a marriage after promising celibacy.

This should answer your questions. No cleric in the Western Church licitly engages in any sexual activity at any time.